I. ANNOUNCEMENT1. President Trần Đại Quang to pay a State visit to India and Bangladesh (2 to 6 March 2018)At the invitation of President of India Ram Nath Kovind and President of Bangladesh Mohammad Abdul Hamid, President Tràn Đại Quang and Spouse will pay a State visit to the Republic of India from 2 to 5 March and to the People’s Republic of Bangladesh from 4 to 6 March 2018. This is his first visit to India and Bangladesh as the President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. The visits take place in a context where the Vietnam – India relations continue to witness extensive development after being upgraded to the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2016, and in the occasion of the 45th anniversary of the Vietnam – Bangladesh diplomatic relations.The visits aim to foster the Vietnam - India traditional friendship and Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, and the Vietnam - Bangladesh traditional friendship and multi-faceted cooperation. The visits also aim to strengthen key cooperation areas which are seeing positive progress and create momentum for other potential cooperation areas in the coming time, as well as to exchange discussion on regional and international issues of mutual concern.It is expected that during his stay in India, President Trần Đại Quang will hold meetings with the President of India, hold talks with the Prime Minister of India, meet with high-level leaders and leaders of several India’s Parties, attend and deliver remarks at the Vietnam – India Business Forum, and attend the Inauguration Ceremony of the Vietnam Cultural Space in India and some other activities.During his visit in Bangladesh, President Tran Dai Quang is expected to meet with the President of Bangladesh, hold talks with the Prime Minister of Bangladesh, meet with high-level leaders of Bangladesh, attend and deliver remarks at the Viet Nam – Bangladesh Business Forum in celebration of the 45th anniversary of the diplomatic relations between Viet Nam – Bangladesh.2. The 6th Summit of the Greater Mekong Subregion Cooperation and the 10th CLV Summit on the Development Triangle Area (Cambodia – Laos – Vietnam) (29 to 31 March 2018)From 29 to 31 March 2018, Vietnam will host the 6th Greater Mekong Subregion Summit and the 10th CLV Summit on the Development Triangle Area (Cambodia – Laos – Vietnam) in Hanoi. These are important multilateral foreign affairs events that Vietnam will host in 2018. On this occasion, Vietnam will also host the first GMS Business Summit to promote the engagement of business community, and development partners in the framework of GMS cooperation.The Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) cooperation was initiated in 1992, comprising Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam and China (with two representative provinces: Guangxi and Yunnan). In recent years, the Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS) cooperation has been implemented in various areas to facilitate development cooperation among participating countries. Cooperation in the Cambodia – Laos – Vietnam Development Triangle Area has been established since 1999 to promote the development of the border provinces of the three countries. Recently, cooperation has been strengthened, helping to promote economic and trade relations between the three countries, contributing to the economic restructuring and enhancing connectivity between these three economies.Reporters at the conference can register online at gmsclvsummits.mofa.gov.vn from 5 to 15 March 2018. Vietnamese correspondents may contact the Bureau of Press, Ministry of Information and Communications. Foreign correspondents may contact the Department of Press and Information, Ministry of Foreign Affairs.3. ASEM Day (1 March 2018)Today is the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) Day. Viet Nam, as a founding member of ASEM, welcomes this important celebration.On March 1996, ASEM was founded by 26 Leaders from Asia and Europe as a bridge that connects our two continents. After the two decades, ASEM has grown beyond initial expectations and established itself as a platform for enhanced connectivity between countries, civilizations, peoples and businesses of the two continents. ASEM has been instrumental in forging links and multi-layered cooperation for peace and development.As ASEM enters the third decade, the regional and global landscape is experiencing rapid and more complex developments. ASEM is at a critical juncture of transformation. We should continue to foster a stronger and more dynamic partnership between Asia and Europe to effectively address today’s challenges, while upholding the ASEM’s cardinal values and principles of equality, mutual respect and benefit.Viet Nam always attaches importance to and put high priority on the joint efforts to uplift ASEM cooperation and promote Asia-Europe connectivity through ASEAN Community, existing partnerships, and bilateral and multilateral cooperation and linkages. With extensive international integration and proactive multilateral diplomacy, Viet Nam will continue to work with other ASEM members to build a vision towards a responsible and responsive ASEM in the evolving landscape.

II. Q&A1. What are the purpose and details of the visit by the US navy ships to Viet Nam in early March?

At the permission of the Vietnamese government, US Navy ships including USS Carl Vinson, the USS Lake Champlain and the USS Wayne E. Mayer will pay a friendship visit to the city of Danang, Viet Nam from March 5 to 9, 2018. Tentative program of the visit includes a welcoming ceremony, a press conference, courtesy calls, technical exchanges, sports exchanges, community activities, etc.

This visit of the US aircraft carrier follows an agreement reached by the two countries' leaders in the Joint Statement between Viet Nam and the United States during the visit of US President Donald Trump in November2017, continuing to promote bilateral relations in line with the Comprehensive Partnership framework and contributing to the maintenance of peace, stability, security, cooperation and development in the region.

2. Could you provide update on the legal paperwork for the Cambodians of Vietnamese origin in Cambodia?

I would like to affirm that Viet Nam always wishes Cambodia to continue creating favorable conditions and taking appropriate measures to ensure the legitimate rights and interests of the Vietnamese-origin Cambodians in Cambodia, in accordance with Cambodian laws and international laws.

The Vietnamese representative offices are working with Cambodian authorities in facilitating the Vietnamese-origin Cambodians in Cambodia to step-by-step complete their legal documents and to secure their legitimate rights and stable life in Cambodia.

3. During the visit of US aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson, is there any diplomatic activity with the United States and does it take place on board? US officials are reported to say that the USS Carl Vinson operates in the South China Sea to promote freedom of navigation.

Regarding exchanges of naval vessels in Da Nang, as said, there will be courtesy calls, welcome ceremony, exchange activities, etc. Details will be announced by the Ministry of Defense as soon as available.

As I said earlier, this US carrier's visit to Da Nang, Viet Nam, follows an agreement reached by the two countries' leaders in the Joint Statement of Viet Nam and the United States during US President Donald Trump's visit to Vietnam in November 2017, continuing promote relations between the two countries in line with the Comprehensive Partnership, contributing to the maintenance of peace, stability, security, cooperation and development in the region.

4. US media reported on a skeleton suspected to be a Vietnamese citizen in California. Could you confirm this and if it is true, what is his/her identity?

On February 14, 2018, Placer County Police Department, California, informed the Consulate General of Viet Nam in San Francisco about the death of a Vietnamese citizen in Placer County. The victim was identified as Tran Thi Trang, born in 1995 in Ho Chi Minh City. The Consulate General of Viet Nam in San Francisco and the Ho Chi Minh City Foreign Affairs Department have informed her family and are supporting the family to complete post-death procedures for her remains repatriation.

The Consulate General of Vietnam in San Francisco has requested the Placer District Police and US authorities to speed up investigation, bring perpetrator to trial and facilitate the Consulate General and the family to repatriate her remains in the earliest time./.